Reclining-chair



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. G. EOKER & J. H. SHAPFER.

REGLINING OHAIR.

No. 390,353. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

E. 0. EGKER. & J. H. S'HAFPER.

REOLINING CHAIR. No. 390,353. Patented Oct. 2,1888.

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ENOS O. EOKER AND JOHN H. SHAFFER, OF SIRYKER, OHIO,

RECLINING CHAlR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,353, dated October 2, 1888.

Application filed September 17, 1887. Serial No. 249,991. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Enos 0. EGKER and JoHN II. SI'IAFFER, citizens of the United States, residing at Strykcr, in the county of Williams and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reclining-Chairs; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in reclining-chairs, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen the same, render it lessliable to tilt in getting in and out of the same, and otherwise improve its construction and operation, as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and then pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair. Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section showing in dotted lines the chair extended. Fig. 3 is a detail view oflocking mechanism; Fig. 4, a perspective view ofa portion ofthe chair, showing suspending-cords applied to form a ham mock.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the front legs connected together at their lower ends by a crossbar, B, and free from any crossround between its lower and upper ends, so as to leave the longitudinal bars of thefootframe free to rise and fall to the maximum extent without meeting any obstruction. The upper ends of the front legs are connected to the horizontal side bars, 0, which project forward of the legs, and the connections between the legs and horizontal bars are braced by the diagonal braces a and b.

The rear legs, D, extend rearwardly from the horizontal side bars, 0, and are connected together by the cross bars E and to the front legs by the diagonally-extending bars Ii. The frame thus formed is strong and light, and constitutes the immovable part of the chair.

The back of the chair is composed of the parallel bars G, pivoted to the horizontal bars 0 by the 'pivots c and connected together at their upper end by the round H. The lower ends of the said bars are connected together by the cross-round e, and the same round connects to the bars the horizontal bars I of the movable foot-rest. The movable foot-bars are connected together at their forward ends by the cross foot-board J, set at an inclination, as shown, and back of said foot-board are connected together by the round K, to which the lower ends of the canvas or flexible leg, seat, and backsupport L are connected.

The movable foot-rest bars I are supported at their forward portion by the pendent inelined bars M, which are pivoted at their upper ends by the round N to the extended portions of the side bars, 0. These inclined bars extend below the horizontal foot bars I, and when the chair is in an upright position bear upon the floor or ground in advance of the front legs, and, standing at an inclination and receiving a good portion of the weight of the occupant of the chair, prevent the chair from tilting forward when the weightis thrown upon the forward portion of the footrest.

The canvas support L extends from the round K up and over the round N, and thence to the round H at the upper ends of the side bars ofthe chair-back. There being no rounds between the front of the seat and the top of the chair-back bars, the flexible bodysupport will give to the shape of the body, and thus form a comfortable rest, and the flexible support, extending down below the round N to the round K, affords a rest for the legs below the knees, and when the chair is thrown back to its limit the flexible bodysupport forms an extended support for the body and leg, as in a cot.

In order to limit the backward and forward movement of the chairback and other movable parts, studs or pins O are secured to the bars G, so that in one position they will strike against the back legs, I), and prevent the back from being thrown too far forward, and in another position will strike'against the horizontal bars 0 and prevent the back from being thrown too far to the rear beyond a horizontal position.

In order to lock the back and movable footrestin any desired position, we attach a curved and perforated bar, 1?, to the pendent bars M and pass its free end through a keeper, Q,

secured to the inside of the front leg, A. This keeper is formed with a perforation for the passage of a pin, It, connected to a springplate, S, which normally draws the pin out of the perforation. A bar, S, extends above the leg and bears against the spring-plate to hold the pin in its perforation. By drawing up the lever the pin will be thrown out of the perforation in the curved bar by the spring and leave the parts free to be adjusted. As soon as the adjustment is completed and pressure applied to the lever, the pin will be pressed back into engagement with one of the perforations in the curved bar, and the parts will be thus locked to their position.

By the construction described there is formed a chair in which the several parts may be of very light material and yet be very strong, tilting is guarded against, the back and foot rest bars are allowed the maximum of play, and yet limited, so as not to be thrown out of working position, and the parts can be easily and quickly locked and unlocked at any desired position.

If desired, rockers may be attached in any way suggesting itself to the mechanic, so as to form a rocking-chair or a cradle, and, if desired, the chair can be suspended as a hammock by attaching the suspending means to buttons at on the extended ends of the horizontal bars 0.

If desired, pegs or pins It may be inserted under the foot-board .T to support or brace the same when stepped upon.

With the view of assisting in raising the chair from a reclining to an upright position, we attach springs T to the Crossbars E and have them bear against the rear of the parallel bars G. This spring will be compressed when the chair-back is thrown downward, and its reaction when the weight is removed or lifted will lift the back upward. Thepreferred form of the spring is that shown, which gives strength and elasticity.

Having described our invention and set forth its merits, what we claim is The combination, with the front and rear legs and horizontal side bars, of the movable foot'rest bars, the pendent bars connected to the forward part of the seat-frame and to the foot-rest bars, and the parallel back bars connected to the seat-frame and foot-rest bars and provided with the pins 0, to bear against the ENOS O. ECKER. JOHN H. SHAFFER.

\Vitnesses:

O. A. Bownnsox, R. L. STARR. 

